nEye Systems
Overview
nEye Systems, founded in 2020, is a cutting-edge technology company specializing in AI networking chips and optical switches aimed at revolutionizing data center infrastructures. Based in Emeryville, California, the company is the brainchild of UC Berkeley technologists, including Professor Ming Wu. As of April 2025, nEye Systems has raised a total of $72.5 million in funding, with significant contributions from notable investors such as CapitalG, Microsoft’s M12, Micron Ventures, and NVIDIA.
Recent Developments
- April 2025: nEye Systems secured $58 million in a Series B funding round. This round was led by CapitalG, with participation from M12, Micron Ventures, NVIDIA, and Socratic Partners. The funding is earmarked to accelerate the development of their innovative optical switch technology, which aims to solve communication bottlenecks in AI data centers and high-performance computing environments.
- Earlier 2025: The company announced prototype developments with plans to distribute production samples the following year. Their technology focuses on enhancing data center performance through optical circuit switches, promising significant improvements in power consumption and bandwidth.
- Previous Funding and Development: Before the Series B, nEye Systems had secured funding through a Series A round led by TEDA Holdings, with additional contributions from Innolight Technology USA and initial seed funds.
- Technology Advancements: The company's optical switch solutions are poised to offer 100x smaller, 1,000x more energy-efficient, 10,000x faster, and 10x lower-cost alternatives compared to existing solutions, according to ongoing research from UC Berkeley's labs.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Emeryville, California, USA |
| Founders | Ming Wu, Tae Joon Seok, Xiaosheng Zhang |
| Total Funding | $72.5 million |
| Key Investors | CapitalG, M12, Micron Ventures, NVIDIA, Socratic Partners |
| Industry | Semiconductor and Networking Technology |
| Number of Employees | 2-10 |
Early History
nEye Systems originated from a collaboration among UC Berkeley researchers led by Professor Ming Wu. Founded in 2020, the startup aimed to leverage advanced silicon photonics and MEMS technology to address the escalating challenges associated with AI and machine learning infrastructures. Initial research and development were conducted at UC Berkeley, with innovations targeting high-speed data transfer and improved network resilience.
Company Profile and Achievements
nEye Systems stands out for its commitment to transforming traditional AI data centers with its next-generation optical switch solutions. The company's business model revolves around the commercialization of silicon photonic MEMS switches designed to overcome cost and power efficiency barriers in AI processing.
- Key Milestones:
- Launch of the wafer-scale optical circuit switch technology
- Completion of Series A and Series B funding rounds to scale technological developments
- Creation of industry-leading high radix silicon photonic switches
- Products: The company’s flagship product, the SuperSwitch, is highlighted for its compact design, low power requirements, and capability to extend GPU cluster sizes and maximize utilization efficiencies in data centers.
Current Operations and Market Position
nEye Systems continues to innovate within the semiconductor and optical switching sectors. The company’s focus remains on improving AI workloads, reducing data center energy consumption, and enhancing computational speed. With substantial investments and strategic partnerships, nEye Systems is well-positioned to lead advancements in networking chips, offering solutions that bridge the gap between traditional and modern AI infrastructure needs.
Neye Systems Funding
In recent years, nEye Systems has significantly grown its funding, crucially through strategic investors like CapitalG and Microsoft’s M12. This funding supports its ambitious goals for technology development, market expansion, and achieving scalability in the production of optical circuit switches.
Nubis Communications
While primarily independent, nEye Systems has drawn comparisons to other companies in the photonics and AI sectors, such as Nubis Communications, known for its emphasis on optical networking solutions. Both firms reflect a growing trend towards integrating advanced photonic technology in data center operations.
Conclusion
nEye Systems stands at the forefront of AI and data center innovation with its revolutionary optical switch technology. The company is not only addressing the fundamental limitations of electrical switches but also shaping the future landscape of AI computing. With a strong backing from premier tech investors and a robust research foundation, nEye Systems is poised for pivotal growth and significant contributions to the semiconductor industry, ultimately impacting global AI infrastructure.